Self-assembly of functionalized organic molecules on flat solid surfaces

Molecules self-assemble on the flat surfaces of metals, semiconductors, and dielectrics. The bond that the molecules form with the surface and the attractive forces between the backbones of the molecules causes the process to occur spontaneously. The molecules consist of three parts, a head group that reacts with the surface, a backbone, and a tail that is exposed to the external environment. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) augment the properties of the surfaces, such as wetting, lubricity, adhesion, chemical reactivity, and electrical conductivity. The surface chemistry and structure of SAMs of alkylsilanes on Si/SiO2, alkylthiols on gold and III-V compound semiconductors, and alkyls attached by bonding carbon directly to a semiconductor are described as well as some of the properties of these layers. The reactions of alkylsilanes with silanol groups and alkylthiols with gold are emphasized because these systems are the best understood. Applications such as selective deposition and future prospects are touched on. References to some of the primary literature and review articles are included for further reading of the vast literature in this area.